Praise God with me! He woke me up right on time last night. Someone deliberately set my sleep-roll on fire. I smelled what I thought was someone smoking drugs, and woke up. When I checked to see who it was, I discovered the bottom of my sleep roll was in flames. I quickly put them out with buttermilk and water. LOL! I grabbed the buttermilk by mistake. Anyway, once the flames were out, I gathered the rest of my wits together. I cut the burnt parts off the tarp, and blankets, put my sleep roll back together, and curled up to snooze until this morning. I did call 911, the dispatcher-Stewart, forwarded me to Metro, I got their answering machine, and it just kept repeating the menu. I’ll just take everything in to them tomorrow. But, Praise God, I am unharmed, and here with today’s message.
It comes to us from Psalms and Proverbs 16. The very first verse is this: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.” Amen! Verses 4-11 speak to us about idolatry. It’s easy to get caught up unwittingly in idolatry, and not even realize it. We work two, sometimes three jobs, sacrificing our marriages and families…we sacrifice our freedom to credit card debt because we just have to have the latest, greatest, etc. This is where God’s standards and boundaries come in to protect us. They empower us to check ourselves against His Word, and to stay on the right path. They make our lives pleasant. God counsels us and instructs us. That tells me I can go to God, not just to learn His Word and Ways, but to unload my burdens; my concerns, my fears, my heart. Verse 8 tells us that when we keep the LORD in sight, He is at our right hand, and we will not be shaken. But, He does stir us to action…and to praise…to elevation. Finally, the last verse, and one of my favorite affirmations: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more.” This was one I was assigned to recite in Bible Camp as a young girl. Thank you, Jesus!
Proverbs 16:1-2 tells us that our hearts belong to us; but they must be lined and linked up with God’s heart (His will, word, and ways) in order to produce effective, life-giving and sustaining peace and power. The Lord weighs our hearts and spirits, and He is faithful to let us know what’s lacking. Not only that, but He helps us to overcome the lack. The rest of the proverb speaks to us of wisdom in living rightly before the LORD; walking humbly with Him, etc. Interestingly, this proverb is one that touches on how a King carries himself, and conducts his life. Wisdom of heart is spoken of. That tells me there’s more to God than logic and head knowledge. Wisdom of heart elevates our attitudes, thoughts, speech, and actions. Verses 25-30 give us a picture of an evildoer. Verses 32 and 33 tell us that it’s better to be an overcomer than an over-thrower.
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, February 21, 2021, 1:32 p.m.
MarinaMorrison(aka)EdenStillwater'sInspirations 